We have such an abundance of showrooms, boutiques, art galleries and design centers filled with luxury and quality furniture as well as antiques, fabrics, rugs, linens, flooring, tile, cabinetry, outdoor living and so much more in the Atlanta area. We could literally take a “field trip” every week for a year and never see it all!

Kelly and I are extremely lucky to live in an area that is brimming with a healthy design community and numerous resources.

STATUARIO EXTRA TECH

Speaking of field trips, we recently visited Construction Resources, a one stop shop in Atlanta that carries a huge line of products of more than 60 brands across 11 product categories.

We visited the massive showroom a couple of months ago and could not believe the selection of products. We were really impressed with the variety of options for natural stone such as marble, granite, quartz, solid surface and ultra-compact surfaces. For those that don’t know “ultra-compact” surface is used to describe a countertop material that is made by putting raw materials found in glass, porcelain and quartz, under extreme heat and pressure to create an almost indestructible material.

A big plus was that we were able to view the large quantity of slabs in a climate controlled area, not outdoors or in a hot/cold warehouse (depending on the time of year). It was a pleasure to browse! These were our favorites:

Choosing countertops can be very confusing. There are many different looks, styles, characteristics and price ranges to take into account. Here are some options to consider based on appearance, lifestyle and budget.

MARBLE – This is considered a “classic”. It is a soft stone and is susceptible to etching and staining. A polished finish is what most people are used to but a “honed” or “leathered” finish is considered to be the best option for marble counters. This means the surface of the stone has been ground to a smooth, flat consistent surface giving it a more “matte” look. It also can be lower maintenance – fingerprints and watermarks are less conspicuous than on a shiny, polished finish. – $75-$250 per square foot

QUARTZITE – A metamorphic rock that was originally pure quartz sandstone. Sandstone is converted into quartzite through heating and pressure. This is not to be confused with Quartz. $70-$120 per square foot

QUARTZ – A synthetic material that’s made in a factory out of stone chips, resins and pigments. Great qualities of quartz is its attractive appearance and durability. It does not have the weaknesses of natural stone. It is non-porous so it resists staining and for cleanliness, it means that it will not harbor bacteria. There is a much wider range of colors as well. $60-$100 per square foot﻿

GRANITE – Granite is harder than marble so it is more resistant to chips and scratches. It can be quite durable but must be properly sealed every one or two years. Granite is still a viable option, but not as popular as marble or quartz. $45-$200 per square foot

LIMESTONE – A natural stone generally pure white to off-white with some color variation but typically neutral. This is one that is porous and soft so maintenance and care is very important. The best option to avoid stains is to protect the surface with a protective sealer. $55-$125 per square foot

SOAPSTONE – An attractive alternative for those that want a natural stone instead of granite. It’s appearance is somewhat more rustic and casual. Mottled white, off-white and gray tones are predominant. It is heat resistant, non-porous and doesn’t need to be sealed. Excellent durability and low maintenance. $60-$185 per square foot.

One of the advantages of shopping for countertops at Construction Resources was the huge selection of slabs, and of course, the great lighting in the showroom. As I mentioned, there are so many design resources in Atlanta and what I loved about Construction Resources is that it is a one stop shop. Once you selected a countertop, you could take your sample to the other parts of the showroom to select tile, cabinets, lighting, etc. – no running around in the crazy Atlanta traffic!

I only touched on the countertops but this is what else you can find there:

A new build or remodeling project can be very daunting if you try to do it on your own. A lot of the selections go hand in hand and so the beauty of doing it all in one place is awesome!!

Here are two Kandrac & Kole designed kitchens:

photo creditWe love the use of the marble as the backsplash (very popular these days)

photo creditThe client maintained their current cabinets with a fresh coat of paint and replaced the sink, faucet, hardware, countertop (fantasy brown) and backsplash

Making selections for a new space or a renovation can be overwhelming, but it can also be really fun. Making the decision to work with trained professionals in the field can simplify the process and save you stress, time and money!

Click here to go to the Construction Resources site and here for their blog where they share lots of inspiration and tips!

We are honored to be partnering for the 3rd year with Carpet One Floor & Home to offer a collection of pink ribbon welcome mats to support breast cancer research, with 19 new mats that are snazzy, whimsical and stylish.

Carpet One has been raising funds to support organizations and researchers for a cure since 2004 and has raised almost one million dollars so far.

Twenty-five percent of each sale will be donated to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF). Each mat is made in the USA complete with a sturdy rubber backing and a pink ribbon to remind people of the cause each mat stands behind. All of Carpet One Floor & Home’s welcome mats are stain-and-water resistant and machine-washable, and measure 2’ by 3’. They retail for approximately $24.99 US/$34.99 Canada

I am happy to announce that the mats we are giving away were designed by two of our interior design colleagues, both from Charlotte, NC.

Pink ribbon welcome mats are available year round at Carpet One Floor & Home stores for approximately $24.99US/$34.99CDN. These inspiring pink ribbon mats make great gifts and add a special touch to a home. Visit CarpetOne.com to find the nearest Carpet One Floor & Home store to purchase a pink ribbon welcome mat and contribute to an important cause.

To be eligible to win one of the beautiful welcome mats above, all we ask is that you do is simply type “Breast Cancer Research -Pray for a Cure” on any of our social media channels. Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. On October 10th, we will randomly select two winners, contact you via private message and get your information to send you the beautiful welcome mat.

The home is located in the city of Cartersvile, Georgia’s historic district. The home was built in 1940 and designed by The Smith and Daves architectural firm of Atlanta.

We elected not to be involved in Designer Show Houses in the past because of our charitable commitment to Guatemala and using our time and talent there. For a blog post on our most recent trip click Our Return to Guatemala 2016!

We were approached by Rosemary Cox, our wonderful rep from Kravet Fabric who thought we would be a good fit for this project. After hearing about where the proceeds for this house will be used, we decided it was something we would be happy to be a part of.

The beneficiary is Advocates for Children, a non-profit organization committed to the prevention and treatment of child abuse and neglect. Their goal is to bring hope and comfort to over 3,000 children and families every year in Bartow County and the surrounding North Georgia areas.

The co-chairs Beverly Baribault Design Group and Jenny and Eric Rothman of Rothman and Rothman Designs have planned a Designer Symposium for each weekend the house is open. The symposiums will be hosted by theBooth Western Art Museumand will feature several of the designers.

Each symposium will include a lecture, book signing and include a panel of designers. Kelly and I are on the panel of the opening symposium on Saturday, October 29th with Matthew Quinn of Design Galleria.

An overall theme for the house was decided by the current homeowners, Tim and Marcia Nugent, under the guidance of the event chairs. Each participating designer has selected a room within the home to decorate and furnish. Upon project completion, each of the designers will have created a reflection of the Nugent’s vision for their home.

The Show House will open with a VIP Cocktail Party on October 15, 2016 at the Smithsonian-affiliated Booth Western Art Museum. The Show House will be open to the public each week Wednesday through Sunday from Oct. 19 to Nov. 13. Tickets will be available for purchase through Advocates for Children’s website, AdvoChild.org, or Atlanta Magazine’s website, AtlantaMagazine.com, for $20 each.

Advocates for Children will receive 100 percent of the proceeds of show house ticket sales.

Mongolian lambswool pillow from West Elm. These are a favorite accessory of mine, they are so so soft!!

Original art by Pamela Copeman– Pamela is an interior designer in Boston and an accomplished painter and mixed media artist. She writes Posh Palettes Blogwhere she shares her interior design projects and original art. She is currently featuring “30 paintings in 30 days”.

Wide Ribbed Ball Lamps with 23K gold bases – Christopher Spitzmiller– Christopher Spitzmiller creates unique lamp designs and is a critically acclaimed ceramicist. His work is often featured in publications such as Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, Elle Decor and many others.

He had the honor of making lamps for the current Oval Office, the past two White House Administrations, as well as the Blair House and other distinguished American homes.

This stunning vignette is from the Hickory Chair showroom in High Point. The Laurent Dining Chair is designed by Suzanne Kasler. Photo courtesy of Linda Holt, who happens to be an interior designer with a photography background.

This was one of those homes where I had to just stand in one spot and silently take it all in. Sigh….. if only……

Every room (literally) opened to the outdoors. You could step out onto this courtyard from the family room and kitchen. Complete with large screen tv, fire pit, comfortable seating and mini pools – it was so peaceful.

The flooring throughout was exquisite – a mix of Mohawk and Karastan rugs with Walker Zanger tile. I think people forget that they can very easily have a rug bound to a very specific size in a carpet pattern that they love. So many times we walk into clients homes and the area rug is way too small. Take a clue from these photos and customize your rugs!

The layering of textures and colors was gorgeous in this contemporary home on a hill overlooking the lights of Las Vegas.

The team at Mohawk did an amazing job illustrating the technology behind KarastanSmartStrand Forever Clean advanced carpet fibers. ASmartStrandcarpet sample was submerged in a massive glass of red wine, pulled out and blotted with a white towel. The entire room of design bloggers gasped at how easily the red wine damage was removed.